Quality Circles

QC consists of 7 -10 people from the same work area who meet regularly to define , analyse and solve quality and related problems in their area .The membership is strictly voluntary and meetings are held once a week for and hour or two . During the initial meetings the members are trained in problem solving techniques borrowed from group dynamics , industrial engeenering & Quality Control .Some of the techniques include brainstorming , Pareto analysis , cause & effect analysis histograms , control charts , stratification and scatter diagrams .

QC are credited with producing quick , concrete and impressive results when correctly implemented .the following are the advantages ::

1) Employees are involved in decision making .
2) Savings to costs ratios generally are higher than those achieved with other productivity -improvements programms .
3) QC members enhance their chances of promotion to supervisory positions .

To several workers , accustomed to thinking of work as a mindless routine , what happens on the shop floor (thru QC ) is a welcome relief .QC give added power to the individual worker .They are a way of motivating the workers and retaining them .

QC begin with a great deal of training in identifying work problems , appkying statistics to track and evaluate quality .For circles to succeed in the long run , the mangement needs to show its commitment , by implementing some of the suggestions of the groups and providing feedback on the disposition of all suggestions .
Last and not the least they are an effective bridge between participative and non-participative management approaches .